AtLA Modern: Year 1, Gen. 1

Chapter 36

Soon enough, it was Friday. The school dance was cancelled due to the missing kids, thinking that it'd be too dangerous. So they all went home, fairly bummed out. They were all back home, sitting around the living room, bored out of their minds. Dai sighed, her legs over the arm of the couch and her head on Sokka's lap. His fingers were tangled in her hair. Katara was picking at a sandwich, and Toph was laying between the TV and coffee table, occasionally groaning dramatically. Zuko had gone home, unsure of what to do now as they all were. Athlea was on the couch, phone in hand. Aang was on a bar stool, playing on his phone.

"Let's bring the dance here."

Aang lifted his head, looking at Athlea. "What do you mean by that?"

"If we can't go to the dance, we bring the dance to us!" she explained. 

Sokka's eyes lit up. "You're a genius! Let's do the party here, in our dorm!" He smiled brightly. "We can bring the party to us."

"I can tell Zuko to come by. He can stop to buy some snacks or drinks on his way here," Athlea said excitedly.

Katara glanced over at them, her expression bright. "That sounds fun!" she agreed.

Toph jumped to her feet. "Finally, something to do!" she cheered.

Aang nodded. "Bring it here," he echoed cheerfully.

Dai sat up, biting her lip. She glanced over at the door, then stood and crossed her arms. "That's cool, but I think I'd rather stick to my room," she said, glancing over at her door and standing to walk inside. "I'll talk to you guys later."

Toph blinked. "What's her problem?"

Sokka raised an eyebrow, the excitement leaving his face, replaced by worry and confusion. "I'll talk to her," he said, following.

Athlea watched, then leaned back, crossing her legs. "Just... problems, maybe," she said with a shrug. "I'll text Zuko." She looked down at her phone.

"Let's... let's get ready!" Aang said, a big grin on his face. "Let's prepare the dorm and make a big post to let everyone know what's going on."

Athlea set her phone down and stood, hands on her hips. "We can take out some big bowls for snacks and put them on the counter," she announced with a smile.

"Okay, sure!" Katara started digging through the cupboards, pulling out a set of large bowls and trays. Toph jumped up and grabbed the alcohol from below the counter in Zuko's makeshift bar and set them out neatly. Aang went to the cupboards as well, taking out different snacks, opening them and pouring them into the bowls, leaving some space for whatever snacks Zuko brought. Athlea turned the TV on, connecting it to some speakers.

Zuko arrived shortly after, a few bags on each arm. Katara and Toph greeted him, and he started adding drinks to the bar and pouring snacks into bowls. "Looks good," he told Athlea.

Athlea smiled and nodded. "Thanks," she said.

"Best idea ever!" Aang cheered. "I bet the school dance would have been pretty boring, but one of our own? Awesome!" he said with a big grin.

Athlea rolled her eyes with a soft giggle. "I just think everyone will like it since our original one got cancelled and all," she admitted.

"The school dance didn't have this," Toph snickered, grabbing a bottle of alcohol before Zuko could set it down. Athlea sighed.

Zuko rolled his eyes and glanced at Athlea. "I convinced Azula to post on hers and Mai's page to let people know what's going on," he told her.

Athlea glanced at Zuko, nodding. "Well... wow," she said with a small giggle. "You? Convincing Azula? Now that's something," she teased.

Zuko shrugged, smiling slightly. "Something about getting her ass kicked by you and Dai probably did it," he guessed.

As he mentioned Dai, she returned to the living room, her hand in Sokka's, her head leaning toward his chest. "You're back!" Katara greeted her quietly, smiling.

Dai nodded, biting her lip and glancing around. "I'll make the living room look right," she said, kneeling and starting to wrap up video game controllers. 

***

A/N party time!